AUSTIN, Texas—Asuragen Pharmacogenomic Services, a division of Asuragen Inc., recently entered into a research collaboration with Merck & Co. Inc. to develop a biomarker and pharmacogenomic test for cancer clinical trials. Under the terms of the agreement, Asuragen will apply the information gained from an expression signature identified by Merck's oncology research program to the development of a diagnostic assay for use in Merck's cancer clinical trials and to potentially form the basis for commercial companion diagnostic tests for oncology therapies. Asuragen will receive an undisclosed payment for the development of the test, which is expected to be completed in 2008. Upon completion of assay development and validation, Asuragen will be eligible for additional payments associated with successful transfer of the diagnostic assays to clinical reference laboratories.